Introduction: Body posture control is based on the ability to detect body's center of gravity. The better the discrimination of foot pressures, the better we can detect the movement of the body's center of gravity. Using a variety of sensory stimuli can affect the improvement of balance. Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine the effect of brushing the entire foot and ankle on static balance among healthy young adults. Methods: The study involved 31 subjects, 21 female and 10 male, aged between 18 and 26 years. To assess balance, subjects stood on a Kistler 9286AA pressure plate on their standing leg with their eyes open and closed first before and then after the intervention. We also measured the pressure detection threshold with Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments. Finally, subjects on the GRCS from -5 to +5 rated the change in the feeling of stability after the intervention and gave a subjective opinion. Results: To analyze the movement of the body's center of pressure and the time standing position on one leg with eyes open and closed, we used ANOVA repeated measures before and after brushing, with which we did not find statistically significant differences. When measuring the pressure detection threshold, which was measured on the instep and on the 1st metatarsal, threshold remained the same for most subjects. However, most subjects rated the feel of change in posture stability with a score of +2, which indicates an improvement in static balance. Most of the respondents cited brushing as a pleasant technique that makes the foot feel lighter, warmer and more sensitive. Discussion and conclusion: Based on the results we can conclude that despite the average improvement in results of the tests after brushing, the difference before and after the intervention was not statistically significant. Given that brushing was enjoyable for most subjects and subjectively resulted in improved balance, we suggest that it could be used as an additional technique to improve balance. However, further research is needed to determine the optimal frequency and brushing sequences.
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